While a large number of critics and reviewers loved Ubisoft’s new take on Splinter Cell and welcomed – what at the time was considered a “Reboot” – our criticism was vocal and vitriolic.Was anxious to rip the latest instalment of Splinter Cell a new one. Splinter Cell: Conviction was a sharp departure from the norm for Sam Fisher, and as a consequence, as a long-time fan of the series, it didn’t resonate with me (and a fair number of other like-minded souls). Take the previous Splinter Cell title as an example. While my gaming addiction may have soothed the savage beast, and seen me through some of the toughest times of my not-so-young life, it’s also been responsible for exposing a couple of my most irrational and annoying character flaws. I’ll admit, when it comes to games, I’ve been known to go from hero-to-zero faster than you can say “hadouken”.
But something unexpected happened it occurred between my fourth attempt at a perfect/undetected stealth run (during a co-op mission). I was already eyeing that new Editor’s position at (insert relevant magazine). Infamy and glory were to be my destiny. I was ready to make a name for myself – as the reviewer that gave Splinter Cell: Blacklist a 4/10. There was so much to hate about this new game, and I was practically salivating.
Blacklist continues after the aftermath of Splinter Cell: Conviction. It eagerly checks all the necessary boxes: (a) the US is under threat, (b) a grand terrorist-plot is being unveiled, (c) there’s the obligatory plot-twisting subterfuge, (d) some internal team drama/conflict and if for the briefest of moments, you feel a bit like Jack Bauer from 24, just be mindful of the genre. I didn’t even mind re-doing a mission with a random co-op partner – from that great online zoo.Of course, Fisher’s current adventure rarely ventures too far from what is expected from a Tom Clancy-inspired work of military fiction. Blacklist had captured my attention.
The difference is that you’re given a lot more freedom in how you approach a mission. As Fisher you can be a creature of the shadows or use his state-of-the-art gadgets, weapons and training to subdue your enemies. What makes the current version so memorable is the fact that you’re given a choice of how you want to approach a mission, rather than the game’s design making the choice for you. It’s definitely a compromise between classic Splinter Cell stealth-action and the 2010 reboot’s attempt at a “more approachable and action-driven game”. Sam is joined by his long-time ally and aid, Anna “Grim” Grimsdottir, as well as a few new faces, hacking specialist and quartermaster, Charlie Cole and former CIA agent, Isaac Briggs.While Blacklist’s story holds very little in terms of surprises, the real winner here is the superb gameplay. A new terrorist group, called the Engineers, is trying to make a name for themselves, and Agent Fisher finds himself leading a new special counter-terrorist task force, called Fourth Echelon (4E) to quell the coming-storm.
Since points are allocated based on your performance in the various styles, it opens up the possibility of revisiting missions and attempting to score perfectly in a specific playstyle.Combat and evading have never been more fluid and effortless. However, you’re not forced to choose between the three, and you can complete missions by using a mixture of the recommended playstyles. Of course, Assault is the playstyle for those who want to throw caution to the wind, and unleash Ares’ fury on their enemies. Panther is perfect for those who want to focus on stealth killings, whereas Ghost requires you to remain undetected.
The truth is, Sam is never defenceless, and since gear loadouts are customisable, you can plan for any situation whether you need a few incendiary grenades for pesky armoured soldiers or even a tri-rotor for scoping out enemy locations.Splinter Cell: Blacklist also features a little bit of Splinter Cell: Conviction DNA, with the “Mark-and-Execute” feature making a controversial return. While, I tend to focus more on the stealthy aspects of Sam, it is comforting to know that if he’s discovered, evading enemies can be rewarding and seamless. Individual gadgets are also never more than a button press away.
Mercs, it’s essentially an extremely fun battle where agile and ninja-like spies (played in third person) are pitted against gun-wielding mercenaries (played in first person). It has been missing since Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (2004).If you’re unfamiliar with classic Spies vs. It’s actually amazing to think that nearly a decade has passed since it was last included in a Splinter Cell game. Blacklist’s multiplayer modes include a couple of dedicated 4E co-op missions and even the return of Splinter Cell’s old multiplayer mode, Spies vs.
ShadowNet captures all your gameplay information and provides you with additional challenges. Regardless, the multiplayer features some of the most engaging battles that I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of.Blacklist’s multiplayer and singleplayer are also complemented with an additional feature, called ShadowNet. If there was ever a display of the dog-eat-dog concept, this would be it. While matches tend to be very well-balanced, Low-level players tend to find themselves out-geared and outplayed by gadget-proficient higher-ranked veterans. It’s also a brutal baptism of fire for newcomers. This multiplayer mode proves to be extremely competitive.
Not to mention the ugly screen-tearing and texture lag.As a total package, Splinter Cell: Blacklist delivers one of the best Sam Fisher experiences to date. The textures on environments and even on the characters themselves appear ill-defined and patchy. Given, how the Splinter Cell games were always visually impressive and pushing the limits, I can’t help but wonder what went wrong. I definitely can’t fault the character animation, but visually Blacklist is underwhelming. All challenges net you in-game cash that can be used for upgrading your plane, or buying and upgrading gadgets and weapons.While, Splinter Cell: Blacklist puts its best foot forward, there are a number of technical issues that mar the experience.
It’s the closest of all the recent Splinter Cell games to the stealth/gadget action of the much loved and respected Chaos Theory. I can honestly say that Blacklist feels like a return to form for Agent Fisher. However, where it matters (the gameplay), the game excels.
0 kommentar(er)
